North Canterbury Fish & Game: Last chance to bag a bird... or two

This weekend is the last chance for duck hunters to bag a few birds before the 2011 season ends and at this stage the forecast is looking favourable.

North Canterbury Fish & Game manager Ross Millichamp says prospects are good with moderately strong south-easterly winds and rain predicted.

“There should also be plenty of other hunters out there to keep the birds on the move.”

Mr Millichamp advises a change of tactics from opening weekend as ducks are now more wary at this late stage of the season.

“Hunters will find ducks will tend to fly round in smaller groups. The typical opening weekend set up of a big open-water maimai, large decoy spread, mechanical decoys and electronic callers may not be as effective as a few decoys set next to the water’s edge alongside a low profile portable blind, with calling kept to a minimum.”

The game bird hunting season started off with a hiss and a roar in the North Canterbury Fish & Game catchment with good duck numbers and favourable weather conditions.

But since then the weather has been largely calm and mild, making hunting more difficult.

“This has particularly been the case for those hunting large water bodies such as Lake Ellesmere where wind and rain are the recipe for success,” says Mr Millichamp.

However, he points out that hunters who have had access to private ponds have done pretty well, with the weather playing a lesser part.

“Last weekend saw the first real southerly blow of the season and good bags were harvested. This is one reason we have such long duck seasons in the South Island; without them, hunters who hunt big, open water might miss out altogether.”

While this weekend signals the close of the Mallard duck season in the North Canterbury Fish & Game region, hunters can continue to pursue Paradise Shellducks until September 25th throughout the region except for the area east of SH1 from the Rakaia River in the south to Woodend Beach Road in the north.

“Parries are great quarry for the novice or young hunter,” Mr Millichamp points out. “But I’d encourage all hunters to get out and make the most of the opportunity they offer.”